"Ministerial plans to liberalise the licensing laws in Scotland were in disarray last night after back-bench Labour MSPs mutinied over a proposal to let off-sales open up at 3am.In a day of intense and bewildering horse-trading at Holyrood, Labour said it was standing by the idea, then changed its mind, before finally seeming to change it back again. The muddle delighted some of its Liberal Democrat coalition partners, who said the row had been self-inflicted.Labour's problems began last week after Bristow Muldoon, the party's MSP for Livingston, tabled an amendment to the Licensing (Scotland) Bill, which completes its third and final parliamentary stage today. If passed, the effect would be to allow off-sales licences between 3am and 10pm, instead of between 8am to 11pm which was specified in the bill following an earlier SNP amendment. Although the proposal had the backing of the Scottish Executive, it angered many Labour MSPs worried about antisocial behaviour, especially in inner-city areas. After the issue was aired at the Holyrood Labour group meeting yesterday, Mr Muldoon told reporters that a refinement would be proposed by another MSP, so that off-sales could not open before 6am. However, the compromise lasted barely half an hour, before it became clear there would no refinement after all. It is understood that ministers have decided to stick with 3am to 10pm opening in a move intended to placate Labour MSPs with city seats."
Why on earth would an off-licence wish to open at 3am? Who would want to buy booze at that hour, other than those emerging from clubs (who have probably already had enough)? And why should the Scottish Parliament - and specifically the Labour Group - be going out of its way to facilitate boozing at 3am? Mysteries, mysteries, mysteries...
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